[LINK] Re: paypal even more evil than before

[Craig Sanders]

On Mon, Mar 19, 2007 at 07:33:31AM +1100, Craig Sanders wrote:
> further investigation showed that several links within the paypal site
> didn't go direct to paypal URLs, they went via doubleclick - including
> links to "contact support", "fund paypal with your bank account",
> "product disclosure statement - Paypal Australia Pty Ltd", and "16
> ways to promote your business".

btw, this is yet another reason to use firefox.

there is an excellent firefox add-on called "Redirect Remover" which
strips out redirectors in URLs.

http://redirectremover.mozdev.org/

note that it wont protect you from all of these redirectors. as the site
above itself mentions, there are several ways for spying web sites to
work around what it does.

fortunately, they all require javascript. so anyone who has enough
sense to install the NoScript add-on to firefox is unlikely to allow
doubleclick or 2o7.net to run scripts.

so, NoScript + RedirectRemover together can kill the spying potential of
these web bugs. and Ad Block Plus, of course.


craig

-- 
craig sanders <cas at taz.net.au>

"If there is a Hell with fire and brimstone, one must conclude that
 it was constructed solely for the special delectation of God, that
 he enjoys watching human beings (or is it their souls?) fry."
             [Chester Dolan, "Blind Faith"]